The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-09-23
Letter from Montana.

United States army in the far west,
and having had an opportunity recent
ly to spend number Of days at Fort
Kcogh, Montana Ter, 1t gives me
pleasure to give brief description of
the garrison. Although this IS, by
name, a Fort it connot In reality be
called thus in the west, but it is known
by the term garrison or post. During
our journey from Vermont we had pic
tured to ourselves perfectly barren
and deserted looking place, but mag
inc our surprise when upon waking in
the morning we found ourselves in a
very pleasant village, If may be al
lowed to call it by this name. In some
respects the place might be called a
village, for here we found experts at
most of the trades, as well as a post
Office and store. In other respects it
did not seem like village, for the
grounds were laid out in a very differ
ent manner. In the centre is a large,
square plot or parade ground surround
ed by growth of cottonwood trees,
and ranged about on each side are the
different buildings.
AS one enters the garrison the first
building which attracts his attention is
the hospital, very neat and tasty two
story building with wings extending
both to the north and to the south, and
a piazza extending entirely around the
building. Passing along the brick
walk which is laid completely around
the parade ground in front Of the
buildings we next find ourselves in
front of the residences of the captains
and lieutenants, which are of uniform
size and shape, each building being ar
ranged for two families; the houses of
the lieutenants being on the west side
of the parade and those of the captains
on the north. Placed at the west end
of the captains quarters is the resi-
dence of Col. Gibson, who is in COM
mand of the garrison. Facing the cap
tains' houses on the opposite side of
the parade are built the barracks for
the private soldiers. On the ground
floor is the ''mess" room and at one
end pleasant reading room which is
open during the day and is supplied
with all the leading papers. In the
rear of the barracks are the govern
ment stables where are kept all the
horses ard mules used at the garrison,
and it is amusing to see the horses
come in from the plains in order to be
"curried" before going to their allot-
ted stalls. At the stables we met an
old gentleman by the name of Dickson,
who seemed to have grown gray in the
service of ''Uncle Sam" He was born
July 4th, 1878, and has been in govern
ment service since the Mexican war.
He acted as teamster for Gen. Taylor,
driving from Ft. Isabel to Monterey,
from Tampica to Vera Cruz, hence to
Mexican City; and he has since teamed
all the way from Mexico to the British
line. Through the kindness of Capt.
Henry ROmeyn we were allowed to
examine the books connected with the
regiment, where we found one that
was especially interesting. This gave
list Of all the enlisted men, with their
time of enlistment and service, under
each name being given minute des-
cript Oh of the person, and report of
all misdemeanors and of their rank as
soldier. We were much surprised to
notice the difference in the habits and
characteristics of the enlisted men as
presented in this book, some of the
men having as many as fifty otfenses
against them and others with not a sim
gle offense in the entire term of SER
vice, and on their salary of thirteen
dollars per month even laying up mon
ey. / remember of noting one in
stance where eight hundred dollars
was paid to a soldier when he was
out"
From the garrison we take car
rage and ride toward the west. just
outside the "post" we find broad,
open prairie, covered with sage-bush
and grease-weed, and of peculiar,
clayish soil of light color known in
Montana as gumbo, through which just
after hard rain neither person or a !
horse can travel. Having ridden some
half mile our attention is drawn
toward a cemetery and OH driving
nearer we notice that most of the |
graves are marked by wooden slabs
with plain rounded tops. In the CEN
tire of the cemetery is large brown
stone monument, and being anxious to
ascertain to whose memory it is erect
ed we enter the grounds and read this
"To the officers and SOL
diers killed, or who died of wounds re-
ceived in action in the territory of |
Montana in clearing the district of the
Yellowstone of the hostile Indians"
The monument bears the names of
thirty-nine men who were with Gen.
Miles. Among them is the name of
Capt. Andrew s. Bennett who had the
reputation of being one of the finest
men on the frontier. Capt. Bennett,
as we'll as his people, is said to have
had premonitiOn of his death. His
sister dreamed three times of his death
and wrote him each time of her dream,
stating that she had even seen the In
dian who was to shoot him.
We now take our carriage and drive
on to the encampment of few Chey-
epne Indians who are employed by the !
as scouts. They dwell in